Steam-engine for air-compressors.



No. 670,310. Patented Mar. 26, [90L G. B. PETSCHE. STEAM ENGINE FOR AIR COMPRESSORS.

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Patented Mar. 26, I90}.

5. B. PETSCHE. STEAM ENGINE FUR AIR COMPBESSORS.

(Application filed July 81, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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d, Aitorney- Patented Mar. 26, I90I.

a. B. PETSCHE.

STEAM ENGINE FOR AIR COMPBESSDBS.

(Application. filed July 31, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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UNTTEE STATES PATENT CEEICE.

GUSTAV BERNHARD PETSCIIE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNOR TO THE SOUTHWARK FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

STEAM-ENGINE FOR AlR-COMPRESSORS;

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 670,810, dated March 26, 190i.

Application filed July 31, 1897.

To all whont it may concern.-

B it known that I, GUs'rAv BERNI-IARD PETSCHE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam-Engines for Air-Compressors, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to the construction and operation of steam-engines, particularly to steam-engines forming a part of what is known asa blowing-engine that is to say, operating a piston of an air-compressing cylinder.

A prime object of my invention is to provide for the actuation and control of both the steam and air valves of the engine from a single eccentric, thereby greatly simplifying the construction of the machine and diminishing its cost.

Further objects are animprovement in the mechanism for actuating the rotary or, as they are generally called, Corliss valves of the steam-engine, to provide an improved mechanism especially designed for facilitating the operation of the steam-valves by hand in starting the engine, and to provide an efficient and simple device for regulating the opening of the air-admission valve, so as to insure that it shall open substantially at the point where the pressure in the cylinder is equal to the atmospheric pressure, this device being provided to meet the contingency of the engine running at different times under different air-pressures.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the steamcylinder part of the engine, illustrating particularly the novel features of construction in connection withthe steam-valve-actuating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the engine as a whole, illustrating particularly the construction of a link operated by Serial No. 646,636. (No model.)

a single eccentric and the various valve-actuating connections operated thereby. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the admission-air-valve-actuating cam. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation showing the construction of the actuating-cylinder which moves the air-delivery valve. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the linkmotion, particularly with reference to the adjustment of the opening-point of the air-admission valve; and Fig. Sis a diagram showing an indicator-card, illustrating the action of the compressing-cylinder under different pressures.

A indicates the frame of the engine, B indicating the position of the steam-cylinder.

C is the main crank-shaft, and D D flywheels.

E is the tub or air-compressing cylinder in which moves the air compressing piston. (Illustrated in Fig. 6 and marked E.)

F is the valve-rod by which the deliveryvalve of the air-tub is actuated. It is, as shown in Fig. 6, connected to the piston F, moving in a cylinder F to the front end of which leads the pipe F opening into the tub, as indicated at f F indicates a pipe through which fluid under pressure, preferably steam or air, is led through a port f into the rear side of the cylinder F F is a valve actuated, as will be hereinafter explained, from the eccentric on the main shaft and governing the admission of the pressure fluid from the pipe F to the cylinder F and the exhaust from said cylinder into the exhaust-port F The device above described is a Well-known one for actuating the delivery-valves of blowing-engines and forms no part of .my invention, being simply shown as a convenient device for operating the delivery-valve and the one which I have in practice employed in connection with my improvements to be hereinafter described.

The connection for operating the pilot-valve F may be traced in Fig. 2 as follows: f is a lever attached to the valve-stem and from it leads a rod f connecting, through a rockleverf a rod W, a bell-crank lever f rod F and lever F with a rod 0 which in turn connects with a slide 0, actuated by a link 0 connected in its turn to the long arm P of the link P P which link is operated by an eccentric Pand is pivoted on a sliding block P moving in a guide P G indicates the valve-stem of the air-admission valve of the blowing-tub and has attached to its end a cam G, in which works a camroller g attached to one end of the rock-lever G the cam working, as indicated, in guides G and the rock-lever being actuated, as shown, through the rod G rock-lever G and the rod G which is attached to the point Q on a lever Q said lever being pivoted at one end to the slide Q, adjustably toward and away from the link P P by means of an adjusting screw'Q. The other end of the link Q is pivoted at g and the link Q which in turn is pivoted to the short arm P of the link, operated by an eccentric.

It will readily be understood 116W the motion of the eccentric-link communicates motion through the cam to the air-inlet valve; but with the exception of the adjustability of the device I do not claim the mechanism shown as an invention, except in so far as it forms a part of the general combination by which the single eccentric is made to operate all the valves of the engine. If, however, the stroke of the point Q to which the valveactuating connections are connected, were constant, the air-valve would always open at the same point with respect to the motion of the main crank, and this might in some cases be too soon and in other cases too late. If too soon, the air compressed in the head of the tub would escape on the opening of the airvalve, and if too late the air in the head of the tub would fall below atmospheric pressu re before the valve opened, and in both cases a loud and objectionable noise occurs by reason of the outrush or inrush of the air. The proper point, as already stated, for the opening of the inlet-valve is when the air in the head of the tub is at atmospheric pressure; but supposing that the engine is at one time at fifteen pounds, at another time at thirty pounds, and at another time at forty pounds the diagram Fig. 8 illustrates the different points with regard to the total stroke of the piston at which the valve should open. In this diagram the line X X indicates the total stroke of the compressing-piston, the lines 15, 30, and 40 form in each case the top of the card, and the points 3, 1, and 2 indicating the.

various points with reference to the pistonstroke at which the admission-valve should open.

Referring now to the diagram Fig. '7, it will be seen how by adjustingtheslide Q the desired variation in the opening-point of the admission-valve can be obtained. Figs. 1, 2, and 3' used in this diagram correspond with erdsio Figs 1, 2, and 3 in diagram Fig. 8, and the points so numbered on the closed curve in.- dicating the motion of the point on the end P of the link, to which link Q is attached, indicating the various points at which the valve will open for the different adjustments of the slide Q to the points similarly numbered.

Referring next to Fig. l of the drawings, the valves, the positions of which are indicated by the symbols H I, are of the rotary type, H H indicating the exhaust-valves and I I the admission-valves. The exhaust-valves have connected with their stems lever H, which is connected by links H with the slides N N, which slides are permanently secured together and move as one. The admissionvalves have attached to their stems leverarms I, having at their outer ends a hook-en- I u I gaging edge '5 of the general character common in the so-called Corliss valve. Loosely pivoted on the valve-stems of the admissionvalves are the idler-levers J, having attached to the ends of one of their arms hooks K, adapted to engage the levers I with their edges K, and having at their outer ends fingers K preferably extending outward, as shown. K indicates springs for pressing the hooks inward, so as to insure their engaging with the valve-actuating lever. To the other arms of the idler-levers are pivotally connected the hook-lifting levers L L, the short arm L of which lies beneath and in operative relation with the finger K of the hook, while the long arm L extends in toward the center of the Valve-stem with which its point of adjustment to its actuating-rod should practically coincide. Each idler-lever is given an oscillatory movement from the slide N or N through a link 1 with the result of engaging its hook with the corresponding valve-lever I at each stroke and acting on the valve to open it through a portion of the stroke of the Jidler-lever determined by the action of the hook-liftinglever, which at a proper time lifts the hook out of engagement with the valvelever, whereupon the valve is promptly closed by the usual mechanism tending to draw it back or in opposition to the direction in which 'itvis carried by the hook.

The special advantages of the above-described valve-actuating apparatus are those incident to the new construction by which a ;hook and hook-lifting lever are attached to separate arms of an idler-lever and arranged in such, wise that the hook-lifting lever, acting with a powerful leverage, engages the outer end of the hook, thereby having the maximum power to lift the hook and insuring va prompt disengagement of the valve.

As already stated, the slides N and N are secured together and move as a single slide. In operation the slide N is coupled to the slide 0 and moved by it and practically as a 1 part of it by the engagement of the latch N passing through the perforation N in the slide N witha latch-detent 0, formed in the slide 0. The two slides are disconnected by drawing out the latch N by means of a handle N and then by turning said handle a locking-pin N is broughtout of register with the slot, as indicated, and so as to lie across the top of the box N, holding the latch out of engagement with the slide 0. On returning the handle N a spring N in the box N presses the latch in, and as soon as it again registers in the recess 0 the three slides are again coupled. The disengagement of the slide N from the slide 0 is chiefly usual when it is necessary to start the engine. A socketlever S S, pivoted at S connecting with the slide N by a link S, enables the engineer to insert a handle S in the socket and move the slides N and N by hand to actuate the valves and start the engine, which after the slides N and O are latched together automatically operates its own valves.

Returning again to the hook-lifting levers and referring first to Fig. l of the drawings, it will be seen that each lever-arm L is connected by a link M to one arm M or m of a J T-lever, the third arm of which is indicated at M and which lever is pivoted to the rocklever M the said rock-lever being given a constant and regular reciprocation by being connected with the link R (see Fig. 2,) in turn connecting to the bell-crank lever B and link R with the slide-block P of the eccentrically-operated link P and P Obviously by shortening or lengthening the distance between the ends of the links M M, which engage the long arms of the hook-lifting levers, the said levers will act at an earlier or later stage upon the hooks, thereby varying the cut-01f of the steam-admission valves. This operation is performed by movements of the T-lever M m M regulated by the governor of the engine. Thus, as shown, the arm M of the T-lever connects, through a lever-link M bell-crank M link M and link M", with the governor indicated at M and proper motion being secured by attaching the link M also to the rock-lever M M indicating regulating device.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a steam-engine the combination with a rotary valve of a lever I secured to the stem, an idler-lever J pivoted upon the valvestem and oscillated by a positively-moving part of the engine, a hook K pivoted upon one arm of the idler-lever J and arranged to engage and operate valve-lever I said hook having a finger K a hook-lifting lever L L pivoted to the other arm of the idler-lever and having its short arm L arranged in operative position to engage finger K of the hook and means for intermittently operating the hook-lifting lever controlled by a governor.

2. In a steam-engine the combination with a rotary valve of a lever I secured to its stem, an idler-lever J pivoted upon the valvestem and oscillated by a positively-moving part of the engine, a hook K pivoted upon one arm of the idler-lever J and arranged to engage and operate valve-lever I said hook having a finger K a hook-lifting lever L L pivoted to the other arm of the idler-lever and having its short arm L arranged in operative position to engage finger K of the hook and its long arm L normally extending inward so that the connecting-point for its actuating mechanism will correspond substantially with the center of the valve-stem and means for intermittently operating the hook-lifting lever controlled by a governor.

3. In a steam'engine the combination with a rotary valve of a lover I secured to its stem, an idler-lever J pivoted upon the valvestem and oscillated by a positively-moving part of the engine, a hook K pivoted upon one arm of the idlerlever J and arranged to engage and operate valve-lever I said hook having a finger K a hook-lifting lever L L pivoted to the other arm of the idler-lever and having its short arm L arranged in operative position to engage finger K of the hook and its long arm L normally extending inward so that the connecting-point for its actuating mechanism will correspond substantially with the center of the valve-stem, a positively and uniformly moving actuating device as lever M an adjustable connection thereon as bell-crank lever M m M operatively connected with lever-arm L and a connection from said adjustable connection to a governor.

4:- In a steam-engine the combination of a positively-moving slide as O actuated by an eccentric and link-motion and supported in guides on the engine with a slide N connecting with and actuating the steam-engine valves, a latch whereby the slides O and N can be secured together or disconnected at pleasure and means as socket-lever S S for independently operating slide N to start the engine.

5. In a steam-engine the combination with a rotary valve of a lover I secured to its stem, an idler-lever J pivoted upon the valvestem and oscillated by a positively-moving part of the engine, a hook N pivoted upon one arm of the idler-lever J and arranged to engage and operate valve-lever I said hook having a finger K, a hook-lifting lever L L pivoted to the other arm of the idler-lever and having its short arm L arranged in operative position to engage finger K of the hook and its long arm L normally extending inward so that the connecting-point for its adjusting mechanism will correspond substantially with the center of the valve-stem, a positively and uniformly moving actuating device as lever M an adjustable connection thereon as bell-crank lever M m M operatively' connected with lever-arm L and a connection from said adjustable connection to a governor, a link P P pivoted on a slide P and actuated by an eccentric P, a connection IIO from the arm P of the link to actuate the idler-lever J and a connection from the slide P to actuate the lever 1V1 substantially as shown and described.

6. In a steam-engine for actuating an aircompressor and having an eccentric P, the

combination of a link P P actuated by the compressor and having an eccentric P the combination of a link P P pivoted on a slide P and actuated by the eccentric a slide 0 coupled to the end P of the link and to a pilot-valve controlling the action of the airdelivery valve of the compressing-cylinder, a slideN secured in guides so as to lie side by side With slide 0 a latch whereby said slide N can be coupled or uncoupled with slide 0, rotary steam-valves for the steam-cylinder, an idlerlever J actuated by slide N and carrying a hook and hook-lifting lever as described, a connection from the slide P of the link arranged to actuate the hook-lifting lever and a governor arranged in the hook-lifting mechanism to vary the cut-off as specified.

8. In a steam-engine for actuating an aircompressor and having an eccentric P, the combination of a link P P pivoted on a slide P and actuated by the eccentric, steam-valveactuating mechanism connected with the arm P of the link P P a link Q pivoted at one end'to the arm P of the link P P, a slide Q arranged to be adjusted toward and away from the link P, P a link Q pivoted to said slide and to the free arm of link Q and a valve-actuating connection extending from a point on links Q or Q to the air-admission valve or valves of the compressing-cylinder.

9. In a steam-engine for actuating an aircompressor and having an eccentric P the combination of a link P P pivoted on a slide P and aotuatd by the eccentric, a slide 0 coupled to the end P of the link and to a pilot-valve controlling the action of the airdelivery valve of the compressing-cylinder, a slide N securedv in guides so as to lie side by side with slide 0, a latch whereby said slide N can be coupled or uncoupled with slide 0, rotary steam-valves for the steam-cylinder, an idler-lever J actuated by slide Nand carrying a hook and hook-lifting lever as described, a connection from the slide P of the link arranged to actuate the hook-lifting lever, a governor arranged in the hook-lifting mechanism to vary the cut-off as specified, a link Q pivoted at one end to the arm P of the link P P a slide Q arranged to be adjusted toward and away from the link P P a link Q pivoted to said slide and to the free end of link Q and a valve-actuating connection extending from a point on links Q or Q to the air-admission valve of the compressing-cylinder. I

GUSTAV BERNHARD PETSOIIE. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. MYERS, D. STEWART. 

